Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00201
The Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act opportunity is a federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program created by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) and codified at 16 U.S.C. 777g-1. It was established in response to the scale of recreational boating in the United States, where there are roughly 11 million registered motorboats and an estimated 578,000 vessels that are 26 feet or longer. The program is supported through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund as part of the broader Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act framework (16 U.S.C. 777), which the 1998 law amended and which has been reauthorized to continue funding BIG.
The core purpose of the grant is to help build out and improve facilities that serve transient recreational boaters operating larger vessels (at least 26 feet long) that are used primarily for pleasure, including boats that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered. Funding is intended specifically for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that makes it possible for these larger traveling boats to safely and practically stop at marinas and similar facilities while moving through an area. In this program, "boating infrastructure" is defined broadly and can include the kinds of structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable to accommodate eligible vessels. A key concept is that the facilities must serve "transient" boats, meaning vessels that are passing through or by a location and staying no more than 15 days.
This particular announcement is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year 2020 BIG Tier 1 State grants. Tier 1 is structured as a state-oriented grant opportunity rather than a national competition under Tier 2, and the Tier 2 National grants are explicitly noted as a separate posting on Grants.gov under a different opportunity number (F19AS00202). Projects funded through BIG must provide public access, which means the benefits are intended to be available to the public rather than restricted to a closed membership, even though the facilities themselves may be either publicly owned or privately owned.
Eligibility for this Tier 1 opportunity is limited to state governments, with "States" defined to include all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a grant funding instrument. The listed funding activity categories include community development, environment, and natural resources, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number associated with the program is 15.622.
For the specific FY 2020 Tier 1 notice provided, the opportunity number is F19AS00201, the NOFO was created on May 31, 2019, and the original application closing date was September 16, 2019. The closing date was set to allow submissions prior to an FBMS (Financial and Business Management System) blackout period and to provide applicants about 109 days to review the NOFO, develop proposals, and submit applications. The award ceiling is listed as $200,000. The notice lists "ExpectedAwards: 0," which typically reflects how the posting was configured in the source system rather than a definitive statement that no awards will be made, but the document itself does not provide additional clarification beyond that field.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity is aimed at improving the network of places where larger recreational vessels traveling from place to place can dock and access needed amenities in a way that supports safe and convenient boating. By focusing on transient use (up to 15 days) and requiring public access, the program is designed to expand and enhance infrastructure that benefits the broader boating public, while still allowing either public entities or private marina operators to own and operate the facilities supported by the grant.Apply for F19AS00201
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.622.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 16, 2019 This due date allows applications to be received prior to the FBMS blackout period. It allows State applicants 109 days to review the NOFO, prepare their application(s) and submit them.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act grant opportunity described here?
This opportunity is a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), under the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program. BIG was created by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) and is codified at 16 U.S.C. 777g-1.
Which agency runs this grant program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What is the BIG Program and why was it created?
The Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program was established in response to the scale of recreational boating in the United States, including roughly 11 million registered motorboats and an estimated 578,000 vessels that are 26 feet or longer. The program’s purpose is to support boating infrastructure that serves larger transient recreational vessels.
How is the BIG Program funded?
The program is supported through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund as part of the broader Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act framework (16 U.S.C. 777). The 1998 law amended that framework and the program has been reauthorized to continue funding BIG.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to help build out and improve facilities that serve transient recreational boaters operating larger vessels (at least 26 feet long) used primarily for pleasure, including boats that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered.
What types of boats are considered eligible users of facilities funded by this program?
Facilities supported by this program are intended for transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet in length and used primarily for pleasure. The description also notes that eligible vessels can include boats that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered.
What does “transient” mean for this program?
In this program, “transient” refers to vessels that are passing through or by a location and staying no more than 15 days.
What is meant by “boating infrastructure” under the BIG Program?
“Boating infrastructure” is defined broadly and can include structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable to accommodate eligible vessels (at least 26 feet long) that are using a facility on a transient basis.
What kinds of activities can grant funds be used for?
Funding is intended for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that makes it possible for larger transient recreational boats to safely and practically stop at marinas and similar facilities while moving through an area.
Is this a national competition?
This specific announcement is for BIG Tier 1 State grants (Fiscal Year 2020). Tier 1 is structured as a state-oriented grant opportunity, rather than the national competition associated with Tier 2.
Is Tier 2 part of this same posting?
No. Tier 2 National grants are explicitly described as a separate posting on Grants.gov under a different opportunity number (F19AS00202).
What is the opportunity number for this FY 2020 Tier 1 NOFO?
The opportunity number listed for this FY 2020 Tier 1 notice is F19AS00201.
When was this NOFO created?
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was created on May 31, 2019.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date listed was September 16, 2019.
Why was the closing date set for September 16, 2019?
The closing date was set to allow submissions prior to an FBMS (Financial and Business Management System) blackout period and to give applicants about 109 days to review the NOFO, develop proposals, and submit applications.
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000.
How many awards are expected?
The notice lists “ExpectedAwards: 0.” The description notes that this typically reflects how the posting was configured in the source system rather than a definitive statement that no awards will be made, and it does not provide further clarification beyond that field.
Who is eligible to apply for this Tier 1 opportunity?
Eligibility for this Tier 1 opportunity is limited to state governments.
How does this opportunity define “States” for eligibility?
“States” includes all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Are private marinas eligible to apply directly?
Based on the information provided, eligibility to apply is limited to state governments. The notice also states that facilities may be publicly owned or privately owned, but it does not indicate that private owners apply directly under Tier 1.
Do projects have to provide public access?
Yes. Projects funded through BIG must provide public access, meaning the benefits are intended to be available to the public rather than restricted to a closed membership.
Can the funded facilities be privately owned if public access is provided?
Yes. The program description notes that facilities may be publicly owned or privately owned, as long as the project provides public access.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.
Is this grant categorized as discretionary or formula?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
What are the funding activity categories associated with this program?
The listed funding activity categories include community development, environment, and natural resources.
What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this program?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number associated with the program is 15.622.
What problem is this grant trying to solve in practical terms?
In practical terms, the program aims to improve the network of places where larger recreational vessels traveling from place to place can dock and access needed amenities. By focusing on transient use (up to 15 days) and requiring public access, it is intended to expand and enhance infrastructure that benefits the broader boating public.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F19AS00201) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act Apply for F19AS00202 Funding Number: F19AS00202 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Community Development, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Partnership in Resource Enhancement, Protection and Education- NIOB Apply for NPS NOIPAC00002 Funding Number: NPS NOIPAC00002 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Community Development, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Restoration of wet woods and coastal wetland areas around Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial on South Bass Island, OH (Lake Erie)- GLRI Apply for NPS NOIP17AC01120 Funding Number: NPS NOIP17AC01120 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $325,000 |
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